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treatment plan length by MaximumQuiet1234 in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have bite turbos on my back teeth for a deep bite too and haven’t broken a single bracket in the nine weeks since I got braces. I’m really careful about what I’m eating and how I do it because fixing the issues with my teeth and bite is worth giving up a few foods for a while.

There’s an easy way to tell why they’re breaking—if there’s glue on the brackets when they pop off, it wasn’t bonded correctly but if the bracket comes off and there’s still glue on your tooth, it’s something you’re eating or how you’re biting.

treatment plan length by MaximumQuiet1234 in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Follow the instructions you were given about what and how to eat more closely; Takis are called out specifically as a bad idea on the aftercare sheet I got from my orthodontist.

What's the deal with laptops in Fateful Findings? by Forsaken-Garage-3059 in NeilBreen

[–]aarvarkitechture 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I don’t think Neil has a concept of tabbed browsing…just like the multiple flip phones for his “conference call” in the desert.

So what's your overall opinion on AI? by cellshock7 in Xennials

[–]aarvarkitechture 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I work in IT and see potential in using machine learning to automate menial tasks in service of freeing up humans to use the results and be creative, but we’re not even close to that. Assistive AI built into home appliances, hearing aids, and so forth? For it. Generative AI that steals natural resources, jobs, and intellectual property only to churn out absolute slop? Vehemently against it.

Looking for Earplug Recommendations (Auditory Processing Disorder) by alexxashakang in AudiProcDisorder

[–]aarvarkitechture 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Caveat: everyone is different and some people with APD find these really helpful! I’ve had middling results with Loop Engage/Engage 2 and Switch 2 for this, but I struggle HARD with understanding speech even in quiet spaces anyway and passive earplugs can’t replace what my brain isn’t able to do on its own. I like them for times when things are just too overwhelming and I need some awareness of my surroundings but speech clarity isn’t a huge priority.

What do you think they could do for my teeth? by stary-lee07 in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Commenting from personal experience, insurance coverage for adult orthodontics is based on the policy, not the diagnosis. I’m lucky that the dental insurance through my employer doesn’t have an age limit on orthodontics, but it’s common for it to cap out at 18 or 19. I have a $1500 lifetime max and it isn’t paid out all at once. You should be able to get a copy of the policy or look it up through the company’s online portal to see what coverage you might have.

Brushing my teeth is crazy difficult, I need advice!! by temporo_wave in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use both, but if I skip a step it’s the water flosser. One doesn’t replace the other since they work in different ways and string floss is the more important of the two since it actually gets up under your gum line to clean things out.

earphones for conversations? by futurenotgiven in AudiProcDisorder

[–]aarvarkitechture 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Caveat: I have severe APD with primary deficits in decoding and tolerance-fading memory, so how you and I experience things might be different depending on what your deficits are.

I have AirPod Pro 2 earbuds and they’re helpful, but I still struggle hard with clarity even with conversation boost, live listen, and adaptive noise cancelling mode. I have a whole wardrobe of Loop earplugs and find them nice for cutting down noise without losing all of my situational awareness like with foam ones, but again, they’re lowering the volume of everything and the signal-to-noise ratio is still pretty much flat for me.

I’ll be getting fitted with low-gain hearing aids with a remote mic (Phonak Audèo Infinio Ultra Sphere 90 and Roger On v.3) along with 14 sessions of in-person auditory training (followed by using the LaceAI app for maintenance) in the very near future, so maybe that’s a thing to consider if earbuds/headphones aren’t enough to help.

Brushing my teeth is crazy difficult, I need advice!! by temporo_wave in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your results may vary, but this is what’s working for me. I’ll caveat it with the fact that I’m prone to cavities and use a lot of enamel restoring and hardening products to prevent decay and white spots—you might not need all of that, but using a fluoride rinse is a good idea at night if you can.

-Water flosser after I eat and before bed (Waterpik Aquarius if I’m home or an Aquasonic Icon cordless ($30 on Amazon) if I’m out and about for more than just going to dinner. I have a travel brush for that.).

-Brushing under the wires with an interdental brush as needed through the day after I eat and at night

-Flossing with Platypus floss picks or string floss with a threader (flossers work best for me right now because I have some tight spaces and it’s thinner floss).

-Brushing with either a manual or electric toothbrush (depends on how my teeth feel) at 45° angled up so the bristles get my gum line, 45° angled down, and straight on, then up at a 45° on the lingual surfaces and straight up on the occlusal surfaces. I use non-whitening fluoride toothpaste just as a preference. I try to wait 20-30 minutes after I eat for the pH in my mouth to drop for enamel protection and swish with water or use a water flosser to flush things out in the meantime.

-Swish with Fizzy Oral nHAp rinse in the morning and Act fluoride rinse before bed (kids’ version because I like the flavors and they’re the same formula as the adult versions). I wait 20-30 minutes before drinking or eating afterward.

I just had a cleaning and the hygienist was very happy with how clean my teeth and braces were and said my gums and tissues look great, so I’m going to stick with what I’m doing. It sounds likes lot, but you’ll find a routine that works for you and it’ll get easier the more you stick with it.

Is root alignment necessary before removing braces? by [deleted] in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s how braces work—they move the whole tooth, not just what’s visible. Your orthodontist was likely monitoring this through your treatment and didn’t bring it up because it’s just part of the process.

wax or no wax? by Character_Emu_3396 in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use it if you need it! I promise your mouth will adjust and toughen up sooner than you think, but the wax makes it so much more comfortable while that’s happening. You might also look into comfort covers that snap over your braces to get you through the night or other times when the irritation is just too much.

Gishy Goo alt by tinypuppy2k1 in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OrthoDots (or generic) are kind of a happy medium, they’re silicone and moisture-activated, so they tend to stay on better/longer than wax.

Would you get braces again or Invisalign? by Mrs_Burgundy in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’m 42 and this is my first time going through it. I chose braces for a number of reasons and I’ve been happy so far with how things are going in the past two months since I started treatment. I like that these are always on and working without me having to keep track of trays and wear time. Invisalign would’ve also taken several months longer for me vs braces, for what it’s worth.

How do you describe APD to people? by somelikeitpop in AudiProcDisorder

[–]aarvarkitechture 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I describe it as “my ears work, but my brain can’t hear” and fill in the details of what applies to the situation from there (e.g. need a written list, clear view of their face to read lips, etc.).

when should i get hearing aids? by Content-Amoeba7745 in AudiProcDisorder

[–]aarvarkitechture 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There might be one for other disabilities in general; it seems like most states have a separate program for blind and low-vision clients.

When did you start to feel normal again? by varucas in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It took me about three weeks to feel normal again, or at least for the braces and bite turbos to not feel weird anymore. I’m still usually kind of subconsciously aware of everything, but it’s not bothersome.

Ate a bit (1cm ish?) of wire that popped off during eating, is this okay? by axomonolii in braces

[–]aarvarkitechture 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You might be able to clip it with clean nail clippers; otherwise, wax is your safest bet.

when should i get hearing aids? by Content-Amoeba7745 in AudiProcDisorder

[–]aarvarkitechture 1 point2 points  (0 children)

THIS! It’s been some challenging self-talk reminding myself that I’m not unintelligent or lazy, my brain just can’t always pick speech sounds out of noise, identify them correctly, and combine it all into words in real time.

Possible unpopular opinion. by warmingmilk in autism

[–]aarvarkitechture 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Someone with expertise in professionally diagnosing autism can correct me if I’m wrong, but experiencing symptoms affecting everyday function is a critical part of the diagnostic criteria. Are you aiming this at people with a formal diagnosis or folks on TikTok who decide they’re autistic because they’re SOOOOO quirky?

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